The basic why's and how's of fruit tree pruning - looking after trees and woodland generally - insight into working with natural processes

FRUIT TREE PRUNING & GENERAL TREE CARE

WOMEN AND MEN WELCOME - OVER 18'S

Plenty of practical experience for all on this course!

I'll explain about the importance of pruning and show you how to use the tools, (which are all hand tools). You'll feel confident to look after your own fruit trees and have a deeper understanding of woodland by the end of the day. We'll be working with a wide range of trees, from an orchard planted four years ago (and flourishing nicely) to an area of mixed woodland, partly naturally regenerated, which includes some nut trees, elder and some fruit bushes.

We'll be thinking about how we can work with all the natural layers of woodland - "forest gardening" - and about a world we are only beginning to understand, the world of fungi, mycellia, and mushrooms. And we'll also be thinking about just how big a part woodland can play in any truly sustainabe way of life.

No experience of gardening or tree care is required. You will need wellies or boots, gloves and if you have secateurs, branch loppers, or a pruning saw please bring them along. Also bring plenty of layers of clothing including a waterproof one.

It's really worth getting good tools if you have much woodland work to do at home... I've been using a pair of Felco secateurs for over fifteen years and they are pure dead brilliant :-)

FELCO SECATEURS

The best pruning saws look like the STIHL one below, there's lots of different ones available, sadly none as good value as the ones we used to get in Portugal :-(

PRUNING SAW

RECOMMENDED READING

Can't recommend this book highly enough, Andrew and Margaret Lear's "Orchards - practical orcharding for a changing planet," ISBN: 978-0-7198-4236-8.

LUNCH BREAK - TOILETS

We'll have a break for some lunch so please bring along a snack or sandwich and flask of something warming as there's no kitchen facilities at the farm. We do have an operational toilet on site though.

I AN'S EXPERIENCE

I went on two fruit tree courses many years ago with Brighton Permaculture Trust and never looked back... After that, the most important practical experience I had was working on good friends' farm in the outback of Portugal, partly learning as we went along and partly through watching locals at work. Then I worked for six years or so in an orchard right by our converted caravan at Treflach Farm, bringing it back from abandonment to healthy abundance. Perth Community Farm has been the most interesting place I've worked at though, as there's such a wide range of habitat in a small area and because we've been lucky enough to have had quite a free hand in how we manage it.

WEATHER - CANCELLATIONS - POSTPONEMENT...

Who knows what the weather or pandemics holds in store for us... we've been lucky with the weather the last couple of years but I'll postpone the course if we're under a couple of feet of snow or frozen solid or there's a hurricane...

REFUNDS If you have to drop out before the course for any reason you can get a refund through Eventbrite up to 7 days before the event, (Eventbrite's fee isn't refundable).

CONTACT IAN

ianecowatt@gmail.com 07450 332 430

Description supplied by the event organiser.